Final vote on police levy election on council’s agenda

John McVey

jmcvey@journal-news.net

MARTINSBURG — The third and final reading of an ordinance providing for an election to continue a special police levy is on the agenda for the Martinsburg City Council’s regularly scheduled monthly meeting Thursday.

The election would be held May 8, 2018, in conjunction with the state primary. The current excess levy expires June 30, 2019.

The levy would run for five years, expiring on July 1, 2023. It would be expected to generate a total of about $6.45 million in revenue over the course of those five years.

It would support nine police officers, including salaries, insurance, benefits, uniforms and other support items.

According to a draft of the ordinance, the annual expenses would be about $1.1 million for personal services, including salaries, insurance and benefits; $141,850 for contractual services and other expenses; and $75,000 for commodities, such as materials, supplies and uniforms, for a total annual expense of about $1.3 million.

There would be no capital outlay for equipment or vehicles in this levy, according to the draft ordinance.

The tax rate would remain the same as the existing police excess levy at 5.25 cents per $100 of assessed value for personal property; 10.5 cents per $100 of assessed value for residential property; and 21 cents per $100 of assessed value for commercial property.

Also on the agenda is a discussion by the council’s attorney, Kin Sayre, of a draft agreement with the Skinner law firm to enter into a lawsuit against pharmaceutical manufacturers, distributors, suppliers and others to recover damages caused by the ongoing opioid epidemic.

Stephen Skinner approached the council about joining a lawsuit on a contingency basis, meaning it would cost the City of Martinsburg nothing unless Skinner can win the suit or reach a settlement with the plaintiffs. The base percentage that Skinner would receive is 25 percent of the award or settlement, plus expenses, according to the draft agreement.

The Berkeley County Council hired Skinner to pursue the same kind of suit.

The agenda also lists the approval or denial between the city and Executive Search Firm for an economic/community development director. City Manager Mark Baldwin said that item would be taken up after an executive session.

Martinsburg officials have been trying to hire a director of economic and community development. The city has advertised for the position two times, but, according to Baldwin, has not been able to find the right candidate.

The Martinsburg City Council meets at 6:30 p.m. Thursday in the J. Oakley Seibert Council Chambers on the second floor of city hall at 232 N. Queen St. For a complete agenda, go to cityofmartinsburg.org/minutes-agendas/.

Staff writer John McVey can be reached at 304-263-3381, ext. 128, or twitter @jmcveyJN.